Google woos another top man for China

Google increased its focus on China by hiring a sales veteran to lead the US Internet search giant's marketing strategy in that country, the company said on Tuesday.

Johnny Chou (周韶寧) will "establish and lead Google's sales and business development operations in Greater China," the Silicon Valley company said in a written release.

Chou was hired away from UT Starcom, where he was president of that company's China operations for nine years, according to Google.

"The leadership and experience that Johnny Chou brings to Google will be an invaluable asset to Google's plans for developing its business operations in China," said Omid Kordestani, senior vice president of Google's Worldwide Sales and Field Operations.

Chou will work with Lee Kaifu (李開復), a former Microsoft executive wooed away from the US software giant earlier this year to establish and oversee a Google research center in China, according to Google.

Lee took up his post in China after Microsoft lost a court battle in the US seeking to block the move.

Lee, a former vice president with Microsoft, was given the green light in September by a judge who said Lee could give Google non-technical advice on doing business in China.

After arriving in China, Lee said his immediate aim was to recruit 50 college graduates this year and hire engineers from within the industry.

Lee has been tasked with setting up the US Internet search giant's development center in China. A decision is expected to be made soon on whether to locate it in Beijing or Shanghai, he said.

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